How do we communicate with students?

Determine how you will communicate with students. In a time of change, regular and frequent communication is best. Ensure that students also understand how to get in touch with you as you provide ongoing feedback. Be explicit in your communication expectations, meaning let your students know when will be checking email and how quickly they can expect a response back.

Blackboard or Canvas can be used as the basic platform for all communication. You can email, send announcements, post-use threaded discussion boards, deliver live (synchronous) lectures, and post recorded lectures as well as post assignments, give tests, and grade.

Communicate your expectations clearly:

• Because you won’t be in the classroom with students to answer questions, be sure to write detailed instructions for assignments.
• Be clear on how much you expect them to interact in the online course. Are they expected to show up for synchronous lectures at specific times? Are they expected to post to a discussion board? How and where should they turn in assignments?
• Let the students know how you will be communicating with them. Will you regularly email them, hold video conferences, post announcements, host a discussion thread?

Establish specific and consistent times when you are available to interact with students whether through live conferencing, phone, or email.

Discussion threads can be used to facilitate discussions and allow students to interact with each other.